Raging Heart On (Lucas Brothers #2)(36)

"Did you find it?" I hear Mom say in my ear, but I don't pay attention to her. I've forgotten all about my phone because there on the sports news is a picture of me and Kayla.

We're standing outside of the family clinic building. The picture is grainy and obviously been snapped with a cellphone—probably dear old Gladys's. It's after Gladys left. I remember. It was right after I told Kayla that she was mine. With this picture though, I see something I didn't before. Or f*ck, maybe I'm just seeing it now because I'm lonely, horny, and want it to be there. I see pleasure. Does she like being called mine?

"Mom, I'll have to call you back," I say into the phone, my eyes glued to the screen. She's arguing in the background, but I ignore it and hang up. I know I'm going to have hell to pay for that, but I can't help it. I have the strongest f*cking urge to jack off doing nothing but looking at Kayla's face on my television and seeing the pleasure in her eyes when she's looking at me. Before I can pause my TV, however, I make the mistake of turning up the volume.

"White Lucas has been off the field for a couple months. Speculation is that the star quarterback might never return due to an injury he received last season. White was benched the first part of the season because his throwing arm seemed weak and off the mark. He was permanently sidelined a month later by the general manager and has been consulting with team doctors. The injury however, doesn't seem to be keeping White from other endeavors. This photo was released late last night by celebrity gossip magazine the Snitch. The photo shows Lucas standing with a woman in front of a local family planning clinic in Dallas. The source for the Snitch tells us that White is definitely playing this one close to the vest, however. In fact, very close. Apparently the woman in the picture is, in actuality, White's stepsister, and they've been dating for a year. That's keeping it in the family a little too much for us, but who are we to judge? Could there be a baby on the way for the pro-baller? Let's hope the little bundle of joy doesn't take after his father when it comes to weak arms. The general manager for the team had no comment at this time. In other news—"

I turn the TV off, then throw my remote across the room. I watch it slam against the wall and smash into a hundred pieces.

It does nothing to make me feel better.





CHAPTER 25


KAYLA




"I'm sorry, Ms. Graham. We hate to do this, but I'm sure you can understand our position."

"No. I'm afraid I don't, Principal Blake."

"We're a small private school, Ms. Graham. Our parents pay for their child's education with the understanding that in doing so, they are guaranteeing their child will receive the utmost learning potential and care."

"Has my ability to teach these children been inadequate? The last time I checked my performance review, my parents were all happy."

"There's an issue of morality, Ms. Graham."

"Excuse me?"

"You signed a morality contract. The type of press you have been receiving is not in line with that."

"Press? I'm sorry, Mr. Blake, I have no idea what you're talking about. It was my understanding that this weekend was about a teaching retreat to reward for our performance—not about me losing my job."

"That was before."

"Before what?" I exclaim, getting fed up with the runaround he's giving me. I thought coming on this retreat would give me a few days to clear my head. Getting our results back from the clinic meant the way was all clear for me and White. Now if only I could just move past my guilt of lying to him, or at least stop feeling like I’ve pushed him into making a decision he wouldn’t normally.

Principal Blake takes out a magazine from a pile on his desk and hands it to me. It's the kind you see in the checkout aisle at your local grocery store or gas station. I always glance at the pictures, but never really pay them any attention. Their headlines always make me giggle—especially after watching that Men In Black movie where they were referenced as giving real information about aliens.

This one isn't making me giggle, though. Not at all. This one is actually making me sick to my stomach. Just reading the headline, I want to hurl.

"Pro Football Quarterback White Lucas having a love child with his sister."

Oh, no.

"Surely you can see that your position at Rosemont can no longer continue."

"This isn't true!" I literally yell, my hand shaking. My eyes are blurry so I know I have tears starting to fall and that just pisses me off more.

"You're not pregnant?"

"No! White and I haven't even had sex yet!" I actually did scream that. Considering everyone at the retreat is probably right outside the door, it might not have been a good move—along with tagging on the word “yet”. Christ eating bananas, when will I learn to shut up?

"Really, Ms. Graham. Your sexual life is your own, of course, but I have to consider the children."

"Why? I'm not having sex in front of them! What I do outside of the classroom should have no bearing on anything. Besides, White is not my brother!"

"He's not?"

"Of course he's not. I mean, his mother kind of adopted me, so I guess technically he is, but he's not! I mean there's nothing blood-related."